)
Everything you need to know about AJ Griffin, the former NBA Draft first-round pick considering retirement at 21.
Who is AJ Griffin?
AJ Griffin is a young American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Houston Rockets.
He gained recognition for his promising start in the NBA, showcasing his shooting skills and potential as a future star.
Griffin was drafted 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022 and spent two seasons with the team before being traded to the Houston Rockets in June 2024.
)
However, in a surprising turn of events, the player decided to step away from basketball after just two seasons in the NBA.
He was waived by the Rockets and is currently contemplating his future in the sport.
AJ Griffin Profile
)
Full name: Adrian Darnell "AJ” Griffin Jr.
Birth date: August 25, 2003
Nationality: American
Place of birth: Dallas, Texas, United States
Age: 21 years old (as of September 2024)
Profession: Basketball player
High School: Archbishop Stepinac High School
College: Duke
Draft year: 2022
Current team: Free Agent
Position: Small forward, Shooting guard
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Parents: Adrian Griffin Sr. and Audrey Sterling
Siblings: Alan, Aubrey, Vanessa Griffin
Net Worth: $7 million (est)
Instagram: @adrian.griffinjr
X: @whoisAG21
How old is AJ Griffin? (AJ Griffin Age)
AJ Griffin is 21 years old as of September 2024.
How Tall is AJ Griffin? (AJ Griffin Height)
AJ Griffin is listed at 6 feet 6 inches. In metres, the youngster is 1.98m tall.
)
AJ Griffin Draft
AJ Griffin was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft as the 16th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks. He was considered a promising prospect coming out of Duke University, known for his shooting ability and athleticism.
)
)
AJ Griffin Trade
On June 27, 2024, the Atlanta Hawks traded AJ Griffin to the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to Nikola Durisic in a three-team trade involving the Miami Heat.
This was the only trade Griffin was part of before he reached a contract buyout agreement with the Rockets and subsequently stepped away from basketball.
)
What team does AJ Griffin play for?
AJ Griffin is currently not playing for any team. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in June 2024, but they waived him in September 2024.
Following this, Griffin is reportedly considering retiring from basketball.
AJ Griffin Retiring
Although AJ Griffin has not officially announced his retirement from basketball, there are strong indications that he is considering retirement and exploring opportunities outside of the sport.
On September 12, 2024, The Athletic's Shams Charania confirmed the earlier report.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the Rockets have reached a buyout agreement with the forward, permitting him to sit out the current season while contemplating his future in basketball, according to an anonymous source familiar with the agreement.
The buyout amount was $250,000, according to the same source.
AJ Griffin Contract
Although AJ Griffin is not part of any NBA team's roster, he initially signed a 4-year, $17.1 million rookie scale contract with the Atlanta Hawks on July 3, 2022 — an average annual salary of $4,276,534.
AJ Griffin Stats
)
AJ Griffin's two-year NBA career showcased his potential as a young and promising player.
Over his two seasons in the league, primarily with the Atlanta Hawks, he compiled solid statistics that hint at the talent he possesses.
In 92 regular-season games, the young player averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. These numbers may not jump off the page, but they become more impressive when considering his limited playing time, especially in his second season.
)
Despite this, Griffin managed to make a significant impact on the court, demonstrating his scoring ability and shooting efficiency. One of his most notable strengths was his three-point shooting, underlined by shooting an impressive 37.2% from beyond the arc, making him a valuable asset on the perimeter.
The youngster’s shooting form and mechanics were widely praised, and he showed the potential to develop into a consistent sharpshooter in the NBA.
In addition to his three-point prowess, Griffin also displayed a knack for getting to the free-throw line and converting his attempts. He boasted an 89.8% free-throw percentage, highlighting his composure and accuracy under pressure.
)
While Griffin's overall stats may not be eye-popping, they were a solid foundation for a young player still developing his game. His shooting efficiency — from three-point range and the free-throw line — is encouraging.
Had he continued his NBA career, he likely would have seen his stats improve with more playing time and experience.
Unfortunately, Griffin's decision to reportedly step away from basketball at such a young age leaves many questions unanswered.
AJ Griffin Achievements
Individual
ACC All-Freshman Team (2022)
McDonald’s All-American (2021)
National Team
FIBA U-16 AmeriCup
Brazil 2019 (Gold)
AJ Griffin Dad
)
AJ Griffin’s dad is Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr., a former NBA player turned coach who most recently held the position of head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks from June 2023 to January 2024.
During his playing career from 1999 to 2008, he filled the roles of shooting guard and small forward. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Griffin honed his basketball skills playing college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates.
The young player’s mother is Audrey Sterling.
AJ Griffin Siblings
AJ Griffin has three siblings: Alan, Aubrey and Vanessa. Alan Griffin played college basketball at the University of Illinois and Syracuse and Aubrey Griffin did likewise at the University of Connecticut.
)
AJ Griffin Net Worth
AJ Griffin’s net worth is estimated to be around $7 million, primarily coming from his two-year NBA career earnings, which total roughly $7.2 million.
AJ Griffin Social Media
AJ Griffin is active on social media, with accounts on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, where his Christian faith is typically showcased The young basketball player has 117,000 followers on Instagram and 20,300 on X.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)